Advertising machine



April 2, 1929. H. ARMSTRONG 1,707,838

ADVERTISING IACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1928 :s Sheets-Sheet HENRY ARMSTRONG. by INVENTOR 27 4 70 ATTORNEYS A ril 2, 1929. H. ARMSTRONG 1,707,838

ADVERTIS ING IACHINE Filed FebQG, 1928 s Sheets-Sheet 2 1 I ATTORNEYS April 1929. H. ARMSTRONG 1,707,838

ADVERTISING ncumz Filed Feb. 6, 1928 s sheets-sheet 3 HENRY ARMSTRONG INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 7 tion. 7 V

The principal objects of my invcntionare Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

" UNITED STATES HENRY. ARMSTRONG, or srnacusannw YORK, Ass'I'GnoR; BY 12mm Assmimmrrs,

TO MODERN ADVERTISING PoRA'rIo'N.

MACHINES LIMITED, or'o'r'rawa, CANADA, A c!- A DVEBTISING MACHINE.

Application filed February 6,1928, Serial No. 252,310, and in Canada February 10, 1927.

Mypresent invention appertains generally to improvements in the art of advertising devices and specifically to a machine in-which rollers carrying the advertising matterdisplay curtains are transported back andforth across a predetermineddisplay area, to suecessively exhibit and obliterate the advertising display matter.

The' invention consists essentially of the;

novel features pointed out broadly and specifically in the claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of an acceptable form of the invento provide a'machine which will successively display a plurality of advertising matter display curtains to afford from theelxhibition view point the same growing in and wiping out action as is provided by machines of the type referred to, and in which therollers carrying theadvertisingdisplay matter curtains are alternately and successively brought intoidisplay position so that all of the roller curtains are displayed ;in sequence, yet. inv

which there isno indexin and interchan in h D D of curtain rollers and in which the curtain rollers are, at all times so, retainedthat the possibility of. accidental displacement is entirely obliterated; in which the display curtains may be highly illuminate-d without shadow; and wherein the minimum of waste display curtain material is required to support the display curtains for exhibition.

The machine comprises, in brief, a vertical frame or track, upon which a carriage is mounted for vertical reciprocation, or 'transverse reciprocation according to the adapta-. tion, said carriage carrying 1n preferably two I juxtaposed groups, the rollers carrying the advertising matter display curtains; The

ends of the curtains remote from said rollers:

are connected to battens engaged with brackets employed to retain said curtain rollcrs in proper spaced relation. In operation,

- as said carriage is reciprocated, said groups of rollers are alternately adjusted'to successively associatethe rollers of saidgroupsin pairs in a common-rollercurtain display" area and the battens on the curtains supported by.

the curtain rollers adjusted to display position, are engaged with stationary hooks located at the ends of the display. area, the

I latter serving to hold said curtains until the battens thereof are released and re-engaged with said curtain roller retaining brackets.

In the present invention, detrimental char acteristics of known machines are avoided by obviating curtain roller interchanging, and by indexingthe battens on the free ends of the curtains at the' extremities of the dis lay area instead of indexing the curtain rol ers. The indexing of the curtain battens is effected after the carriage carrying the curtain rollers has advanced to its farthest point of travel and has commenced to return, the indexing being brought about during the return travel of the roller carriage. Thus the roller carriage may travel beyond the point ofcurtain line 11 on ig 2. a V

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the machine,

as it would appear when taken on the plane designated by the line 2-2 on'Fig. 1.

' of section of the latter being designatedby v a Fig. 3 is a horizontal section as it would appear .when taken on the plane designated by the line 33 on Figs. 1 and2.

Fig. 4' is an enlarged section of the roller groups on'the reciprocatable' carriage, as it would ap ear when taken on the plane designated by ine 4-4 on Fig. 1. j i

Fig. 5 is a fragmental front view of the section of the roller groups illustrated in Fig. 4. I

Fig; 6 1s-an end elevation offthe 'recipro catable carriage onan enlargedscale, as it would appear when viewed in the direction indicated by arrow a in c1, and I Fig. 7 is a like view showing a relative position of the oneroller group tripping or rotating mechanism,

Like characters of reference designatqcorrespondin'g parts throughout the difierent views. c

Theiterm Fdisplay curtain hereinafter of the machine is used to support certain components, in view of which thesame is illustrated, the base thereof being designated by thenumeralti, the front by the numeral 7, and the back at'8, While the sides are indicated at 9 and 10 and the top at 11. The front of the machine is provided with a vision opening over which a sheet'of glass 12 is mounted, and behind which a tapered frame or visor is located-to add anaesthetic effect to the ma chine. Thesides of the visor as indicated at 13, 14, 15 and 16, enclose or bound what is hereinafter designated as the curtain display area..

The frame of the machinegenerally indicated at 17 is providedwith a base bracket 18 secured by screw 19 and tothe case base 6 by screws 20 and 21.

Brackets 22 and 23'connected to the top of the frameare fastened to the channel 24 extending across the top 11 ofthecase by means of bolts 25 and 26.

w Shims 27 and 28 are provided at the ends of said frame to facilitate for adjustment.

Channels 29. and SO'are formed in the said frame to receive journal ball bearings indiproper location and cated by numerals 31 and 32, the two. small bearings 31 being located in channel 29 and hearing against the edges thereof, while the larger bearings are disposed at right-angles with respect to the-smaller bearings and bear against the opposite sides of said frame channels; All said bearings are mounted on stub pins 1 projecting from the carriage guide bracket 33, preferably in the form of a casting, through which the steel roller drive chain 34passes, the latter being provided with a "guide chair 35 which fits snugly within the lower end of said guide bracket, the contact faces of the guide bracket and guide chair being closelymachined to assure proper aligna ment of the latter.

" Two small rollers36 and 37 are carried on the endsiof pin 38 projecting through. said guide cha r 35 and drive chain 34. VA transverse slot 39 is provided in the guide bracket 1 33 to receive roller 36 while the other side of the-bracket is forked at 40 and 41 for the other roller87', the object of the opening be tween the forks being to allow the lower end of the guide bracket 33*to travel past the hubs of the drive sprocket 42 and idler sprocket 43. It will be observed in Fig. 3 that the guide chair 85 has projecting sides 44 and 45 so that the guide chair is not only retained in align ment within the guide bracket by means of close contact therewith and rollers36 and 37 described, but is also retained by straddling the sprockets referred to, when the bracket is being reversed in transit, as described later.

Idler sprocket 48 is mounted upon a journal ball bearing 46 supported by stub pin 47 'extening into frame 17 referred ,to. Drive for the motor to stop travel of the guide.

bracket 33 and the reeiprocatable carriage later described,.when occasion demands, this being a most desirable featureas later more fully expounded. The drive pulley 51 is free to rotate upon said shaft between fixed collars 55 and 56, the latter collar being cut away as at 57 providing a flat contact surface for the arm 58, whichis pivoted to said pulley as at 59, and is held in contact by spring 60 on an adjustable pin 61 extending through pulley boss 62. J A-governor 63 is provided to lock arm 58 against the flat surface 57 on collar 56 to enable starting without operating the switch by the'starting load. This governor is pivoted between' two bosses 64 and 65'and is tensioned downwardly by spring 66' on pivot pin 67 as indicated by arrow Z) in Fig. 2, so that the governor locking cam 68 contacts with the upper edge of arm 58 and locks'said arm in position. a This locking feature counteracts the normal starting-load and when pulley 51 picks up speed, governor 63 is forced outwardly radially by centrifugal force so that thecam 68 extends outwardly clear of the I arm 58. When an overload is imposed upon the drivmg chain 34, this is transmittedto shaft 50 of the speed reducer imposing a load thereon, so that the motor 54 will force arm 58 from the flat surface 57 on collar 56 to the arcuate surface thereof, 'thus forcing said arm upwardly in direction of arrow 0.

It will be observed from the location of pivot pin 59 that this action will throw the outer end of arm 58 outwardly beyond its concentric-path of travel as denoted by circle (Z and will strike trip arm 69 pivoted on bracket 70 at 71. This trip arm serves to lock switch arm 72 pivoted to said bracket at 73, by means of pin 74 carried by arm 72 and extending; into arcualte slot 75 in trip arm 69. i switch for breaking thelight and motor circuit is provided and indicated at 76, the tumbler arm .77 thereof being located immediately above the end of switch arm 72. When trip arm 69 is struck by the end of arm 58 as set forth, it is forced in the direction ofarrow 'e'a'nd switch arm 72 is forced 78, the pin 7 4 riding up vent damage to switch tumbler arm 77. By

adjusting pin 61 any desired pressure may be e exertedon arm 58 by spring 60.' In view of the reduction in speed and leverage Obtained by utilization of a worm gear speed reducer and the light operating load, little driving force is required to drive shaftand consequently a very sensitive contact of pulley 51 with said drive shaft, and corresponding sensitive automatic switch, is provided.

Carriage guide bracket is secured to a transverse carriage frame 7 9 having brackets and 81 at the ends thereof. Journal ball bearings are retained in the retainers 82 mounted on the opposed faces of said brackets in pairs and corresponding spaced relation. Roller group shafts 83 and 84 extend through said journal ball bearings. Two'brackets 85 and 86 are mounted in spaced relation on shaft 83. Shaft 84 is provided with two brackets indicated at 87 and 88, the latter two brackets being mounted in spaced relation with respect to the aforesaid brackets to provide working clearance.

Clutain rollers 89 and 90 are supported by said pairs of brackets in groups, the rollers of 'each said group being in equidistant spaced relation and at equal radial distances from a common axis ofrotation. Each roller referredto is formed of a section of tube indicated at791 mounted upon bearings contained in the ends thereof'(not shown) which in turn are supported by the spindles 92 which extend longitudinally through said roller tubes and bearings and are supported by brackets 85, 86, S'Iand 88.. Springs 93 of said battens. have hooks *formed thereinwhichengage wound upon said spindles, are connected thereto and to the "-roller tubes. These springs serve to tension the curtain rollers for display curtain winding and unwinding purposes.

Display curtains 94 and. 95 are connected in any suitable manner to the said curtain rollers 89 and 90 respectively and have battens 96 and 97 connected to the free ends thereof. These battens may be in the form of split tubes whichgrip the free ends of the display curtains. Pins 98 provided with tapered guide collars 99 extend from the ends Brackets 85, 86, 87 and .88

the pins projecting from the ends of the said battens when the display curtains are'wound upon the respective display curtain rollers and the battens are thus hcldjin position under winding tension of the roller'springs 93 until released for display, the tapered collars 99 on the end pins 98 serving to prevent endwise shifting of said battens.

a A curtain roller action concealing bar 10 is provided with brackets 102 and 103 which engage with the brackets 80 and 81 of the carriage frame, the relation of this bar with respectto the curtain rollers, display curtains thereupon, and the battens on the latter being such that it will just clear the same. This bar should be of sufiicient width to hide from view, when viewed from the exhibition side of the display curtains, the roller winding action of the latter. I

The two groups of curtain rollers referred to are alternately adjusted for sequential exhibition of display curtains by means of ratchet mechanism co-operating with stationa'ry cam ratchet actuating means, Two ratchets 104 and 105 are mounted on shafts 83 and 84 respectively. Each ratchet is provided with four arcuately formed teeth 106 in equidistant spaced relation and the teeth of the two ra-tchets are opposed so that the directions of rotation will be reversed. Two ratchet dogs 107 and 108 are supported upon pins 109 and 110 carried by carriage frame bracket 80, and each said ratchet is provided with an end roller which engages the teeth of said ratchets, the same being tensioned ported by lugs 113.

Two ratchet trip arms 114 and 115 are mounted upon journal ball bearings 116 and 117 on the ends of shafts 83 and 84 and carry ratchet dogs 119 and 120 pivoted on pins 121, said ratchet dog's being provided with rollers on the ends thereof which engage the teeth of said ratchets, the same being tenSioned thereagainst by springs 122 supported by pins 123 protruding from lugs 124 an d 125 on said trip arms. Pins 126 and 127having journal ball bearings 128 and 129 mounted on the ends thereof, are carried by said trip arms 114 and thereagainst bv springs 111 on pins 112 sup- 115,'the two pins being in equidistant spaced relation with respect to the centres of shafts 83 and 84. A pin 130 extends from the centre of bracket 80 in the same vertical plane that shafts 83 and 84 are disposed in. A journal ball bearing 131 is mounted on the outer end of said pin in alignment with journal ball bearings 12,8 and 129.

The mechanism for tripping the ratchet trip arms includes a channel 132 having bracket plates 133 and 134 on theends thereof, which are fastened to the brackets 135 and and lugs 143 and 144 on bracket plates 133 and 134. Trip cams 145 and 146 channelshaped incross section, are provided on trip cam brackets 138 and 139. The arcuate'contour of trip cams 145 and 146 is determined by the distance from the centres of shafts 83 and 84 to thecentres of pins 126 and 127 such disin after more fully set forth.

The two journal ball bearings 128 and 129 on ratchet trip arms 11 1 and 115 and the journal ball bearing pin 130 extend into the channel-132 and in proximity to'the extremities'of travel of the rcciprocatable carriage the journal ball bearings 131 and 132 alternately enter and ride around trip cams14l5 and 1 16 respectively, to trio the respective group of curtain rollers, as later defined. Journal ball bearing 131 on pin 130 operating in the stationary channel 132 supports the end of the reciprocatable carriage and prevents movement of the same with respect to the inner edges of the door visor 13, 14C, 15, 16

I referred to.

To reduce the working load of the motor and stabilize travel of the reciprocatabl-e carriage, which. is visible through the b r 101 the reciprocatable carriage is counterbalancedby means of the counterweight 1 17 which runs on journal ball bearings 1 18 operating in channels 1 19 and 150 of frame 17 and journal display curtains are being exhibited. It is r of similar hooks 167 on said transverse ball bearings 151 which bear against the opposite sidcsiof said frame. A steel roller chain 152, is connected at one end by means of screw 153 to said counterweight and is trained over idler sprocket 15 1, the othcrend thereof bein connected to bracket'155 secured tothe' transverse carriage frame 79. idler sprocket 15 1 is mounted on a journal ball bearing 156 supported upon pin 157 extending through the upper end of frame 17. Two hooks 158 and 159 are fastened by bolts 160 to brackets 135 and 136 on side 9 of the case and a pair 161 and 162 are securedby bolts 163't0 brackets 16% and 165 "on side 10 of the case. These hooks serve to retain the display curtain battcns96 and 97 when. the

important that these hooks be so located with respect to the reciprocatable carriage that the brackets 85, S6, 87 and 88 which disengage the battens will liftthe said battens clear of the said hooks. 1 it is also essential that the centres of these hooks lie in the same vertical plane as the hooks 100 on said brackets, as

clearly shown in Fig. 2 to enable proper engagement-and disengagement of display curtain battens. I

j t 18 very desirable to present, from an advertising viewpoint, a hi ghlyilluminated display curtain sincethis adds considerably to" V the attractiveness of the same. It is alsonecessary to obliterate all disolay. curtain shadow and-with this end in view illuminatin elect Z3 7 trio lamps 166 are mounted on the brackets carriage frame 79.

These lamps extend close to the display cur-' tains in display position and intercept shadow which otherwise would be cast by the reciprocatablecarriage travelling up and down in front of the illuminating electric lamps 168 supported bythe conduits 169 and 170. The

lighting circuitfor the electric lamps 166 on the reciprocatable carriage includes two conarrows A and B. It

tact rails 171 and 172 housed within the guard strips 17 3 and 17 4:. Two metal brackets 175 and176extend froma' porcelain or fibre cap 177 and carry contact brushes 178 and 179 which bear against the contact rails 171 and 172. The wiring leading from the brackets 175 and 176 to the lamps 166 may extend through the longitudinal opening 180 in the transverse carriage frame and through the brackets 167 totheelectric light sockets which support the lamps 166. 1

In operation the reciprocatable carriage carrying the display curtain rollers 89 and and'the'display curtains 9d and carried thereby is reciprocated up and down in the machine case-by means of the driving chain 34 and guide chair 35 within guide bracket 33, which guide chair rides over sprockets 12 and 13 reversing the direction of travel of said reciprocatable carriage. \Vhen the guide chair 35 on said driving chain is located centrally under driving sprocket 42 the centre of the reciprocatable carriage designated by line A-B lies in the plane indicated by the line E'.F, and when said guide chair is located centrally over idler sprocket 18 the centre of the reciprocatablecarriage as designated by line A]3'lies in the plane depicted by line C D.' The lines CD and EF thus indicate the extent of travel of the reciprocatable,carriagei The location of the trip cams 145 and 1416 with respect to the extren'lities of the. reciprocatable carriage travel is an important factor since these trip cams determine theaccuracy of display curtain roller tripping andlocking. It has been disclosed that the display curtain rollers 80 and 90 of the two roller groups are disposed in equidistantspaced relation at equal radial distances from a common axis of rotation and 107,108, 118-and*119.

The foregoing is clearly depicted in Figs.

6 and 7 wherein'the trip channel 132 and the upper trip cam l l5are indicated by dotted line. In Fig. 6 it will be observed that teeth 106 of ratchets 104C and 105 are bearing against end rollers on ratchet dogs 107 and 108, due to the tension exerted by the winding springs-93 in the curtain rollers in display position, which tension incidentally forces said ratchets in the direction indicated by will also be observed that there is a clearance space C-D between the end rollers of the ratchet dogs 118 and 119 and the ratchet teeth 106, and that these ratchet dogs are in position for tripping.

\Vhen the reciprocatable carriage travels to one extremity of its planeot travel, for instance to line C'D, journal ball bearing 128 on pin 126 carried by trip arm 114 rides around trip cam .1 15 through the arc IJ K which is equivalent to 97 thus carrying, the ratchet 104. so that the tooth 106 thereol inindexing position will rid'e'l over the end roller on ratchet dog 107 leaving clearance space E in order that on return travel of said reciprocatable carriage the trip arm 114 will ride back into alignment with the associated trip arm 115 and the ratchet 104 will move back 7 and tooth 106 thereof will again bear against the end roller of ratchet dog 107. The action of trip arm 115, ratchet 105 and ratchet dogs 108 and 120 is similar. In this manner alternate adjustment-of the display curtain rollers 89 and 90 is brought about and by virtue of the over-riding of the ratchets 104 and 105 and the ratchet dogs-107 and 108, a positive, smooth operating, du-

rable and practically noiseless trip action is provided.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings show the reciprocatable carriage in substantially the centre of the display area, with two display curtains 94 and 95in exhibition. Presuming that the reciproca-table carriageis travelling upwardly, after the bar 101 begins todisappear behind the upper edge 15 of the door visor, hooks 100 on brackets and 86 pick up the batten 96 on the upper end of display curtain 94 and carry the same clear of the hooks 158 and 161, following which the upper group of curtain rollers is adjusted by the ratchet trip mechanism described and the curtain roller 89 immediately above the curtain roller 89 torn ierly in display position behind the bar 101 is brought to such position'and the batten 96 on the display curtain 94 wound thereupon rides into the hooks 158 and 161 and is supported thereby so that this succeeding display curtain may be exhibited.

The reciprocatable carriage is then driven downwardly and after the bar 101 passes the lower side 16 of the door visor hooks 100 on brackets 87 and 88 engage the batten 97 on display curtains 95 and lift the sameclear of hooks 159 and 162, followin which the lower group of curtain rollers 90 is adjustedby the ratchet trip mechanism described and the curtain roller 90 below the curtain roller 90 carried from display position is adjusted to display position behind the bar 101 and bat-- ten 97 on display curtain wound upon said curtain roller in display position is carried into hooks 159 and 162 which retain the same so that'this display curtain is exhibited. In

this manner tie reciprocatable carriage istranspurted; hack and forth behind the'visor respect attention 'is invited to the fact that suflicient clearance should be allowed in the design and mounting of the trip cam brackets 138 and 139 and the batten hooks 158, 159, 161 and 162 to accommodate for slight variation and distortion in the case construction.

The automatic electric current shut-ofl' switch is a very desirable feature on the min chine, since at times the curtain roller Winding springs 93' break, and in such event it is necessary to immediately stop the machine before the display curtain and batten become entangled in the machine and cause destruction. By means of the mechanism described,

a very sensitive switch action is provided which will promptly shut oil the motor (and lights if desired) This shut-off switch is also very useful when assembling the mach-inevand on preliminary trial operations, since the machine'may be brought to a stop in the event that everything is not properly taposed.

It will also be observed that the display curtains 94 and 95 are so supported by the rollers 89 and 90 and battens 9G and 97 that there is very little waste material in the display curtains, which is an important cost factor when the display curtains are changed at frequent intervals. p V

While I have illustrated and described an acceptable adaptation of the invention it is obvious that the same is for the purpose of disclosure only, and that several modifications may be resorted to, to accordwitih commercial requirements, without departing from the gist of the invention and thescope of the annexed claims. w

What I claim as new is: l I I 1. In combination, display curtain rollers;

connected to said display curtain rollers at one end only; battens on the other ends-of said display curtains; means to support said display curtain rollers and saiddisplay curtain battens; means to transport saidsupportsaid stationarydisplaycurtain batten SE1) L15 display curtains, said display curtains being porting-means, to exhibit'said display curtains in sequence.

2. In combination, groups of display curtain rollers; display curtains, said display curtains being connected to the display curtain rollers of said groups of display curtain rollers at one end only; battens on the other ends of said display curtains; means to support said groups of display curtain rollers and said display curtain battens; means to reciprocatesaid sup 'iorting means across a predetermined display area; stationary means to support said display curtain battens in proximity to the extremities of travel of said groups of display curtain rollers and a predetermined display area; and means operating intermittently to alternately adjust said groups of display curtain rollers and bring the display curtain rollers of said groups of display curtain rollers into display position on said supporting means to engage said display curtain battens with said stationary display curtain batten supporting means, to exhibit said display curtains in sequence. 1

3. In combination, a frame, a carriage supported by said frame, means to reciprocate said carriage, display curtain rollers mounted upon said carriage, display curtains, saiddisplay curtains being connected to said display curtain rollers at one end only, battens on the other ends of said display curtains, means on said carriage to support said display curtain battens, stationary means to support said display curtain battens in proximity to the extremities of a predetermined display area,

and means operating intermittently to bring said display curtain rollers in succession into display position on said carriageyand to engage said display curtain battens with said stationary display curtain batten supporting means, to exhibit said display curtains in sequence. V

' 4. In combination, a frame, a carriage supported by said frame, two parallel shafts journaled on said carriage, two brackets mounted on each said shaft in spaced relation, display curtain rollers disposed between and supported by said brackets, means to Wind up and tension said rollers, display curtains on saidrollers, battens connected to said displaycurtains, hooks on saidbrackets to engage and support said display curtain battens, -means to reciprocate said carriage, means to alternately adjust said shafts to bring said display curtain rollers in successioninto display position on said carriage, and stationary hooks to engage and hold said battens on said display curtainscarried by the,

display curtain rollers in display position.

5. In combination,a frame, a carriage supported by said frame, two parallel shafts journaled on said carriage, .two brackets mounted on each said shaft in spaced relation, display curtain rollers supported between said brackets, means to wind up and 'tension said display curtain rollers, display eur tains on said'roll ers, battens on the free ends of said display curtains, hooks on said brackets to engage and support said display curtain battens, means to reciprocate said our riage, means on said carriage co-operating with stationary means. to alternately adjust said shafts to bring said display curtain rollers in succession into display position on said carriage, andstationary means to engage and hold said battens on said display curtains carried by the display curtain rollers in display position. i, I r r I 6. In an advertising machine, the combination with amachine case, of a reciprocatable carriage in said case; display curtain rollers carried by said carriage, display curtains on said rollers, stationary electric lights in said machine case to illuminate said display curtains during display curtain exhibition; and electric lights on said carriage to illuminate said display curtains during exhibition thereof and to, prevent shadows being cast thereon.

7. In combination, a support arranged to travel back and forth through a definite range, a bracket rotatably carried by said sup port, a group of display curtain rollers mounted about the axis of said bracket, means controlling step by step rotation of said bracket to determine interchanged positions of said rollers, curtains, spring-Wound upon said rollers having battens at their free ends, receiving means adjacent a limitof the range of travel of saidsupport for receiving a portion of the batten of the curtain which is at the time in display position and holding it for the unwinding and Winding of said curtain during the subsequent display period thereof, said bracket having receiving means for the battens of said curtains, one of which receiving means for each step of rotation of said bracket lies in a plane parallel to the direction of travel of said support and embracing said first-named receiving means, the ra-nge of travel of said support continuing sufficiently beyond said first-named receiving ineansto effect the transfer of a batten held by said first-named receiving means to said second named receiving means, and means also adj acent the limit of the range of travel of said support for imparting a rotational step of movement to said bracket, for moving the batten which has been transferred to said second named receiving means out of the cemmon plane of both of said receiving means, and moving the batten of the curtain next to be displayed, into said common plane.

8. In combination, a support arranged to travel back and forth through a definite range, a bracket rotatably'carried by said support, a group of display curtain rollers mounted about the axis of said bracket, means controlling the angular amplitude of steps'cf rotation assumed by said bracket to determine interchanged positions of said rollers, and means adjacent a limit of the range of travel of said support constructed .to impart step .by step rotation .to said bracket in steps of greater amplitude than that determined by said controlling means, whereby certainty in the positioning of said rollersis assured regardless of wide tolerances in the construc tion of the several elements of the combination. r v

'9. In combination, a support arranged to travel back and forth through a definite range, a bracket rotatablyv carried by said support, a group ofdisplay curtain rollers mounted about the axis of said bracket, a rectilinear guide'and means associated with said bracket engaging said guide, fol-holding said bracket nonrotatably during the display period of said range of travel,-n1'eans adjacent the limit of said range of travel of said support for assuming control of said guide ongaging means fortmoving the latter to impart a step of rotational movement to said bracket, and means controlling the angular amplitude of the said step of rotational movement, to determine exact interchangedpositions for said rollers prior to the re-assumption by said guide of the control of said bracket.

10. In combinatioma support arranged to travel back and forth through a definite range, a bracket rota'tably carried bysaid su pport,-a group of display curtain-rollers mounted about the axis of said bracket, a rectilinear guide and means associated with said bracket engaging said guide, for holding said bracket nonrotatably during the display v period ofsaid' rangeof travel,[means adjacent the limit of said rangeoftravel of said support for-assuming control of said guide engaging means for moving the latter to im part a step of rotational movement to'said bracket, and means controlling the angular amplitude of the said step of rotational movement, to determine exact interchanged positions for said rollers prior to thereas'sumption by said guide of the control of said bracket, said"means for imparting the steps of rotational movement tosaid bracket being constructed to impart said movement in steps of greater amplitude than that determined by the means control-ling the angular amplitude of said movement, whereby certainty in the positioning'of saidrollers is assured prior to the reassum-ption of thecon trol of said bracket by said guide, regardless of wide tolerances in the construction of the parts of said combination.

11. In combination, rollers adapted to carry display curtains wound thereupon, atraveling support forsaidrollers, means for moving said support back-and forth, means near an end of the range of travel of the rollers for holding the free ends of the curtains one at a time, cooperating with said support to unwind the held curtain, and

by the respective holding means.

means operating intermittently for bringing the rollers successively into position in which the curtains which may be wound thereupon will be successively engaged by said holding means. V

' 12. In combination, groups of rollers, said rollers being adapted to carry display curtains wound thereupon, a traveling supportfor said groups, means for reciprocating said support back and forth, means near each end of the range of travel of said support for holding the free ends of the curtains one of each group respectively, at a time, said means being adapted to cooperate'with said support to simultaneously unwind one of the held curtains and permit the other to wind, as said support reciprocates, and means operating intermittently to bring therollers of the groups into position in which the curtains which may be wound thereupon ,will be engaged by said holding means,.sucoessively as to the rollers of a group, but alternately as to the groups.

13. In combination, groups of rollers, said rollers being adapted to carry display curtains wound thereupon, a traveling support for said groups, means for reciprocating said support back and forth over a display area, means near each end of the range of travel of'said support for holding the free ends of the curtains one ofeach group respectively 'at a time, said means being adapted to cooperate with said support to simultaneously unwind one of the, hold curtains and wind the other as said support reciprocates, cooperating elements, carried, on the one hand, by said support, and on the other hand, being relatively fixed adjacent the respective holding means, for intermittently bringing the rollers. of the respective groups successively into position in which curtains which may be wound upon said rollers may be engaged 1- In combination, groups of rollers, said rollers being adapted to carry display curtains wound thereupon, a traveling support for said groups, means for reciprocating said support back and forth over a display area, means .near each end of the range of travel of said-support for holding the free ends of the curtains, one of eaclrgroup respectively at a time, said means being adapted to cooperate with said support to simultaneously unwind one of the hold curtains and wind the other as said support reciprocates, cooperating elements, carried on the one hand, by said support and on the other hand, being relatively" fixed adjacent the respectively holding means, for intermittently bringing the rollers of the respective groups succes sively into position in which curtains which may be wound upon said rollers may be engaged by the respective holding means, and means adapted to maintain said held curtains-in arplane path during the tmverseof Y the rollers of said held curtains across said display area. 7 I

15. In combination, two groups of rollers, each group being mounted on a rotatable bracket, said rollers being adapted to carry display curtains wound thereupon, a traveling support for said bracket, means for reciprocating said support back and forth over a display area, means near each end of the range of travel of said support for holding the free ends of the curtains, one of each group respectively at a time, said means being adapted to cooperate with said support tosimultaneously unwind one of the held curtains and wind the other assaid support reciprocates, and means operating intermittently to impart step by step rotation to said brackets for bringing the rollers of said groups into position to which the curtain which may be wound thereupon will be engaged by said holding means successively as to the rollers of a the groups.

supported by said frame, means to reciprocate said carriage, rollers adapted to support display curtains mounted on said carriage, means adjacent the limits of therange of reciprocation of said carriage for holding the free en-ds of the curtains when said rollers have moved to a determined position, means to intermittently vary the relationof said rollers on said carriage to associate said rollersin sequence in pairs, and to bring them into a common plane with said holding means.

17. In combination a frame, a' carriage supported by said frame, means to reciprocate said carriage, through a range of movement including a determined display area, rollers adapted to support display curtains mounted on said carriage, means adjacent the limits of the range of reciprocation of said carriage for holding the free ends of the curtains when said rollers have moved to a determined position, means to intermittently vary the relation of'said rollerson said carriage to associate said rollers in sequence in pairs, and to bring them into acommon plane with said holding means, and means for maintaining I the position of said rollers fixed with respect to the carriage while they are traversing said display area.

18. In combination, display curtain rollers, supporting means on which said rollers are arranged in endless series, fixedmeans for engaging and holding the free ends of curtains of the spr1ng-wound type with which said rollers may be provided, said supporting means being reeiprocable so as to transport one of the rollers back and forth in a path which intersects and extends beyondsaid holding means, the free end of the curtain which ma-y be carried by the said one roller being engaged and held by said holding means to unwind thecurtain in film group but alternately as to rection of travel of said supporting means and to permit the winding of the curtain and the lifting of the free ends thereof from said holding means upon the travel of said supporting means in the opposite direction, means operative while the supporting means is in a position in which the free end ofthe curtain is lifted from said holding means to rotate the series of rollers through an angle at least sufiicient to bring another roller successively into the positionof the first mentioned roller, and means for holding said series of rollers in its newly assumed rotative position until the free ends of the curtain carried by said second mentioned roller are brought into engagement with said holding means by the return movement of said supporting means.

.19. In combination, display curtain rollers, supporting means on which-said rollers are arranged in endless series, fixed means for engaging and holding the free ends of curtains of the spring-wound type with which said rollers may .be provided, said supporting means being reciprocable so as to transport one of the rollers back and forth in a path which includes a displayarea and which beyond said display area, intersects and extends beyond said holding means, the free end of the curtain which may be carried by said one roller being engaged and held b said holding means to unwind the curtain in one direction of travel of said supporting means andto permit the winding of the curtain and the lifting of thefree ends thereof from said holding means upon the travel rection, means operative while the supporting means is in position in which the free end of the curtain is lifted from said holding means, to rotate the series of rollers through an angle at least sufficient to bring another roller successively into the place of the first mentioned roller, and means for holding said series of rollers in its newly assumed rotative position until the free ends of the curtain which maybe carried-by the second men tioned roller is brought into engagement with said holding means, by return movement of said supporting means, and means for positively maintaining said roller in its prescribed path throughout its extent of travel over said display area.

20. In combination, a frame, a carriage supported by said frame, means to reciprocate said carriage, rollers adapted to carry display curtains, mounted upon said carriage, means operatingintermittently servhold the free ends of the display curtains which may be carried upon said rollers.

21. In combination, a frame, a carriage supported by said frame, means to reciprocate said carriage, rollers adapted to carry display curtains, mounted upon said carriage, means operating intermittently serving to bring said rollers in succession into a position on said carriage in which curtains which may be wound thereupon may be displayed when suitably actuated, stationary means for engaging and supporting the free ends of the curtains which may be carried upon said rollers, and means mounted upon said carriage to conceal the winding action of the display curtain rollers from view, when viewed from a predetermined display area.

22. In combination, a carriage, means to support said carriage, means to reciprocate said carriage, two groups of display curtain rollers mounted upon said carriage, and means carried by said carriage cooperating with stationarymeans, to alternately adjust said groups of display curtain rollers, to bring the rollers of said groups successively into position on said carriage in which curtains wound thereupon may be displayed when suitably actuated, and means for engaging and holding the free ends of the said display curtains.

23. In combination, a carriage, means to support said carriage, means to reciprocate said carriage, two groups of display curtain rollers mounted upon said carriage, in parallel alignment, means carried by said carriage cooperating with stationary means to alternately adjust said groups of display curtain rollers to bring the rollers of said groups successively into position on said carriage, in which curtains wound thereupon may be displayed when suitably actuated, and means for engaging and holding the free ends'of the said display curtains.

2a. In combination, a carriage, means to support said carriage, means to reciprocate said carriage, two rotatable groups of display curtain rollers mounted in parallel relation on said carriage, means to partially rotate said groups of display curtain rollers when in proximity to the extremities of the reciprocating travel of said carriage to bring the display curtain rollers of said groups successively into position in which curtains wound thereupon may be displayed when suitably actuated, and means adjacent the said extremities of travel for receiving and holding the free ends of the curtains of the rollers that are, at the time, in the said display position.

25. In combination, a carriage, means to support said carriage, means to reciprocate said carriage, two groups of display curtain rollers mounted in parallel relation on said carriage, curtains spring wound upon said rollers, means operating intermittently serving to bring the display curtain rollers of said groups in succession into position on said carriage to display two of the curtains when the latter are suitably actuated, and means for engaging and holding the free ends of the display curtains which at the time are in position to be displayed, to permit the curtains to bedisplayed, upon the alternate retreat of said carriage from said respective engaging and holding means.

26., In combination, a carriage, means to support said carriage, means to reciprocate said carriage, two groups of display curtain rollers mounted in parallel relation on said carriage, curtains spring wound upon said rollers, means operating intermittently serv ing to bring the display curtain rollers of said groups in succession into position on said carriage to display two of the curtains when the latter'are suitably actuated, and means for engaging and holding the free ends of the display curtains which at the time are in position to be displayed, to permit the curtains to be displayed, upon the alternate retreat of said carriage from said respective engaging and holding means, and means to conceal the winding action of the display curtain rollers from view.

27. In combination, display curtain rollers, supporting means on which said rollers are mounted in two groups, the rollers of each group being arranged in endless series with one roller of each group being normally in position to display curtains which may normally be found thereupon, means for'transporting said support with said rollers back and forth a predetermined distance, means adjacent the limits of said predetermined distance for engaging and holding the free ends of the curtains which may be wound upon the rollers that are in the said position to display said curtains, and intermittently operating means for alternately actuating said groups of rollers to bring the rollers of each group successively into curtain display position.

28, In combination, display curtain rollers, supporting means on which said rollers are mounted in two groups, the rollers of each group being arranged in endless series with one roller of each group being normally in position to display curtains which may normally be wound thereupon, means for transport-ing said support with said rollers back and forth a predetermined distance, means adjacent the limits of said predetermined distance for engaging and holding the free ends of the curtains which may be wound upon the rollers that are in the said position to display said curtains, intermittently operating means for alternately actuating said groups of rollers to bring the rollers of each group successively into curtain display position, and means for holding said rollers in this position during the period of transportation of said rollers across the area in which the curtains are displayed.

29. In combination, displaycurtain rollers,

supporting means upon which said rollers are arranged in endless series, one roller at a time being normally in position to display a tently operating),- means for bringing said.

rollers successively into curtain display position, means for holding said rollers in their assumed position during their period of transportation across said display area, and means 'for holdin3 said rollers in their assumed position immediately subsequent to their interchange of positions and in advance of their period or transportation across said display area.

30. In combination, a traveling support capable of back and forth movement, means for moving said support back and forth,

rollers for display curtains carried by said support, means permitting change in the relative positions of said rollers on said support, and means adjacent the limits of the range oi travelof said support engaged by means moving with said support for changing the relative position of said rollers.

31. In combination, a traveling support capable of back and forth movement, means for moving said support back and forth, a bracket retat-ably carried by said support, a group of display curtain rollers mounted about the axis of said bracket, interengageable elements respectively associated With said group of rollers and locatedadj acent the limits of the range of travel of said support for rotating said bracket to impart step by step rotational movement to said group, and means controlling the step by step rotation of said bracket to determine with exactness the interchanged positions of said rollers.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HENRY ARMSTRONG. 

